Temporary drainpipe closure



June 20, 1950 TEMPORARY DRAINPIPE CLOSURE illlll 20 G. STEELE 2,512,041

Filed March 2, 1949 INVENTOR Gilbert Stele A ORN Patented June 20, 1950 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE.

The present invention relates to a temporary, removable closure for closing the ends of tubes or pipes, particularly for closing the ends of the leadpipes of a drainage system for purposes of testing the system or of temporary use, especially on construction jobs, before the systems are completed or the fixtures connected to the pipes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a temporary closure of the character described which will make an air-tight and watertight seal at the end of a flexible pipe to which it may be connected under the normal pressure conditions oftesting or use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a temporary closure for flexible drain pipes of the character described which is easy and simple to attach and which forms a safe and secure seal when it is attached" in place.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a temporary closure for flexible pipes of the character described which is not only easy and simple to attach in place, but is as easy and simple to remove, in spite of the distortion effects on the end of the tube or pipe resulting from the pressures occasioned by the attachment of the closure and the use of the temporary closed system under pressure.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a temporary closure of the character described which is of relatively simple construction; which is strong and durable and capable of numerous repeated uses; and which is, for

the foregoing reasons, highly economicalto produce and to use.

The foregoing and other advantages and superiorities of the temporary closures of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawing and from the description following. It is to be understood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the principles and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible, and without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a blown view of the several parts and elements making up the temporary closure of the present invention; shown in order of assembly and partly broken away and in section to disclose structural details;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, in elevation, of an assembled closure of the present invention, shown secured to the end of a pipe; and

Fig. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring more specifically to the accompanying drawings, the temporary drain pipe closure of the present invention comprises a cylindrical cap, generally designated as H), consisting of a top'wall', I I, having a central aperture, [2, formed therein and of an annular flange, [3, along the edge of the wall H, and having a plurality of radially disposed adjusting'screws, l4, preferably of the wing type, set thereinto. The cap I!) is preferably of relatively heavy metal and of a sizeadapted to fit over and exteriorly of the freev edges of a flexible drain pipe, l5, of lead orthe like.

Arranged within the cap I0 is a frusto-conical disk or washer, it, of substantial'thickness which is, however, less than the height of the flange 13; and of a diameter less than that of the cap It; the washer, l-fi, being disposed in outwardly tapering position.

Preferably, the Washer 16 may be made of a non-metallic rigid substance which is slightly yielding to pressure, such as Wood, or the like, and. it is, likewise provided with a' centrally formed axially disposed aperture, ll.

Disposed adjacent the reduced end of the: washer I5 is a relatively heavy and. rigid metal disk, l8, having a central opening, l9, formed therein and provided with a forked edge, 20, which receives and retains therein a relatively thick ring or tire, 2!, of a resilient material, such as rubber or the like. The disk, l8, and the ring, 21', are formed" to. have a combined diameter equal approximately to the widest diameter of the washer l6, and the tire or ring 2| is of circular cross-section and of a thickness greater thanthewidth of the forked edge 20.

A second, fiat, rigidi metal" disk or washer, 23, having a. central opening 24, and of a diameter less than the combined disk it and ring 2| and greater'thanthat off the disk It, by itself, is disposed against the disk I 8, outwardly of the cap l3; its edges, 25., adapted to rest against the sides of theringZ'l.

A- bolt, 26, is passed through the registering openings l2, Il l9 and 24, respectively, of the cap it, Washer 16, disk [8 and washer 23, which bolt 2d is provided with suitable nuts 2? and 28, respectively, on its outer and inner ends.

In operation, the cap It, washer It, disk l8 and" washer 23 are relatively loosely assembled on the bolt 25, by means of nuts 2? and 23'. As thus assembled, the closure is fitted over the edge of the pipe 15, with the flange It on the outside thereof" and the several Washers and disk on the inside thereof; The adjusting screws it are then turned to press the edges of the pipe 15 against the side face of the washer It. After the closure is secured on the pipe l5 in this manner, the" upper nut 21' is tightened to press the disk I8 against the bottom face of the washer i6 and- I I, which press the edge of the pipe [5 against the side face of the washer l6. The security of washers and disk may be compressed toward one another.

3. A temporary closure for flexible pipes comprising a cap having a flange adapted to fit over the edge of a pipe, a plurality of radially positioned adjustable screws set into said flange and adapted to be engaged against the wall of said pipe, a frusto-conical non-metallic washer of a the cap I on the pipe is further enhanced by the air-tight and liquid-tight pressure of the rubber ring 2| against the inside of the pipe id, to hold the closure in place against the standard pressures encountered during testing or temporary use.

It will be further apparent that despite any distortion of the edge of the pipe 45, resulting from the tightening of screws Hi thereagainst, which, in similar devices heretofore used created great difiicultiesin removing the closure from the pipe, the temporary closure of the present invention will be easily and readily removed on loosening of screws It by reason of the outwardly sloping side face of the washer "5 against which the pipe edge is pressed.

This completes the description of the temporary closure for flexible drain pipes ofthe present invention. It will be readily apparent that many modifications and variations thereof may be made by any one skilled in the art, in accordance with the principles of the invention hereinabove set forth and without the use of any inventive ingenuity. I desire, therefore, to be protected for any and all such modifications and variations that may be made within the spirit of the present invention and the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

l 1. A temporary closure of the character described, comprising a cap having a flange adapted to fit over the edges of a pipe, screws adjustably set into the said flange, a frusto-conical, nonmetallic washer disposed within said cap in outwardly tapering position, a rigid disk having a circumferentially disposed relatively thick resilient ring mounted thereon disposed adjacentsaid frusto-conical washer, said disk and ring having a combined diameter slightly less than the diameter of said cap, a rigid washer positioned adja-' cent the said disk, said rigid washer having a greater diameter than said disk and a lesser diameter than said cap, said cap, said frusto conical washer, said disk and said rigid washer each having a central axial opening formed thereslightly yielding material and of a diameter slightly less than said cap at its narrower end positioned within said cap in outwardly tapering position, a rigid disk having a ring of greater thickness than itself and formed of a resilient material circumferentially disposed thereon, said disk positioned against the outer face of said washensaid disk and ring having a combined diameter less than said cap, a rigid washer of greater diameter than said disk and lesser diameter than said cap disposed against the outer face of said disk, said cap, said wooden washer,

saiddisk and said rigid washer each having a the edge of a pipe, screws adjustably set into forked edge of said disk, said disk and ring ha in, a bolt passing through all of said axial openings, said bolthaving an adjustable locking nut on its outer end whereby said cap, Washers and disk may be compressed toward one another.

2. A temporary closure for flexible pipes comprising a cap having a flange adapted to fit over the edge of a pipe, screws adjustably set into said flange, a wooden, frusto-conical washer disposed within said cap in outwardly tapering position, a rigid disk having a circumferentially disposed resilient ring of greater thickness than said disk ing a combined diameter less than said cap, a rigid washer of greater diameter than said disk and lesser diameter than said cap disposed against the outer face of said disk, said cap, said wooden washer, said disk and said rigid washer each having a central axial opening formed therethrough, a bolt passed through said-openings, said bolt having an adjustable nut at each end thereof whereby said cap, washers and'disk may be compressed toward one another;

5. A temporary closure for flexible pipes comprising a cap having a flange adapted to fit over the edge of a pipe, screws adjustably set into said flange and adapted to be engaged against the wall of said pipe a wooden washer of a slightly yielding material and of a diameter less than said cap at its narrower end positioned within said cap in outwardly tapering position, a rigid metallic disk having a forked edge positioned against the narrow face of said wooden washer, a resilient ring of greater thickness than said disk disposed within the forked edge of said disk, said disk and ring having a combined'diameter less than said cap, a rigid washer of greater diameter than said disk and lesser diameter than said cap disposed against-the outer face of said disk, said cap, said wooden washer, said disk and said rigid washer each having a central axial opening formed therethrough, a bolt passed through said openings, said bolt having an adjustable nut at each end thereof whereby said cap, washers and disk may be compressed to ward one another.

GILBERT STEELE.

No references cited. 

